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FIU vs Indiana
Finally the college football season has arrived and in the heart of Miami it's year three under head coach Mike MacIntyre for the FIU Panthers. The Panthers would finish last season with an underwhelming 4-8 overall record and 1-7 in the conference. FIU has not experienced a winning season since 2018 under Butch Davis finishing 9-4 the best finish in program history. They have not been to a bowl game since the famous 2019 season where they beat the Miami Hurricanes and faced Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl. The blue and gold would open the 2024 season taking a trip up to the midwest visiting Indiana.
Ty Son Lawton and Kurtis Rourke would go on to impress in their Indiana debuts as well as brand new head coach Curt Cignetti who has not had a losing season in 13 years. Lawson would score two touchdowns as Rourke would throw for another one. The game was pretty much wrapped up and done by the third quarter. Indiana's emphasis this season was keeping fans in the stands and creating an atmosphere similar to a power four.
The Hoosiers run game dominated the Panthers 234-53 forcing two turnovers while they went 414-182 in passing over the Panthers. This was a rushing total that was bigger than any other game last season for Indiana. Part of that was Elijah Green who would go for a 51-yard touchdown in the closing minute of the game. Lawson carried 16 times for 74 yards meanwhile it was Rourke who went 15 of 24 with 180 yards.
For FIU it was QB Keyone Jenkins completing 20 of 29 passes for 129 yards which included one interception. The lonesome score for the game was Jenkins connecting with Rocky Beers for seven yards in the final minute of the first half. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Beers would leave the game with an apparent hamstring injury and would not return. FIU had no answer for Indiana as they were just simply outclassed.
The Hoosiers would pick up the victory at Memorial Stadium by a final score of 31-7 with the Panthers now having lost five straight if you include the end of last season. The Panthers have not won a season opener on the road since 2015 when they visited UCF defeating them by a final score of 15-14. Things could get interesting if this doesn't turn out to be a winning season for MacIntyre.
Next up for the FIU Panthers is a home game welcoming Central Michigan to Pitbull Stadium.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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